Trump departs G7 early amid Middle East tensions, as leaders seek clarity on US position
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President Donald Trump departed the Group of 7 (G7) summit in the Canadian Rockies a full day earlier than planned, citing ongoing developments in the Middle East.
The unexpected move on Monday evening came as G7 leaders attempted to finalize a joint statement addressing rising tensions between Israel and Iran.
“President Trump will return to Washington tonight so he can attend to many important matters,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Monday.
Trump had originally intended to remain at the summit through Tuesday.
In a statement posted to social media, Leavitt added, “President Trump had a great day at the G7, even signing a major trade deal with the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Much was accomplished, but because of what’s going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State.”
Disagreement over joint G7 statement
The summit began amid efforts by European leaders to finalize a joint statement that would emphasize Israel’s right to self-defense and assert that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon.
The statement was led by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and summit host Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Trump, however, signaled his intention not to sign the statement, according to a source familiar with the matter.
A senior White House official later confirmed the position, saying Trump saw no need to sign on given his prior public remarks.
Asked if a statement would be a useful show of unity, the official said that Trump’s attendance at the summit, which occurred at the invitation of other G7 leaders, already served that purpose.
“Under the strong leadership of President Trump, the United States is back to leading the effort to restore peace around the world. President Trump will continue to work towards ensuring Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon,” another White House official said.
Despite hopes among some European officials that Trump might change his mind, his stance created a visible divide among the leaders.
Stefan Kornelius, a spokesperson for the German government, told reporters, “We’ll see in the end, it’ll be up to the American side to decide whether we’re going to have a G7 statement on the Middle East or not.”
A senior Canadian official said that negotiations on the wording of the joint statement were ongoing and that discussions among the leaders would continue during the summit’s global security session.
Also read: Trump administration shakes up international institutions with surprise decisions–What happens next?
Social media warning and vague assurances
Hours after signaling his intention not to endorse the statement, Trump posted a brief and dramatic message on Truth Social: “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”
He did not offer further explanation.
The post was widely interpreted as an attempt to increase pressure on Iran amid escalating tensions with Israel.
Later, when speaking to reporters at the summit, Trump said, “I think Iran basically is at the negotiating table where they want to make a deal, and as soon as I leave here, we’re going to be doing something,” without specifying what action he was referring to.
Also read: Trump plans meeting with Putin–A step towards ending the war?
Background on Iran ultimatum and Israeli strikes
Earlier this year, President Trump issued a 60-day ultimatum for Iran to agree to a new nuclear deal.
That deadline expired Friday. On day 61, Israel carried out a series of unprecedented strikes against Iranian nuclear and military sites.
Trump referenced this during his meeting with Carney, saying, “They’d like to talk, but they should have done that before. I had 60 days, and they had 60 days, and on the 61st day, I said, ‘We don’t have a deal.’ They have to make a deal, and it’s painful for both parties, but I’d say Iran is not winning this war, and they should talk, and they should talk immediately, before it’s too late.”
Later, when asked if he believed Israel could manage the situation without US assistance, Trump replied, “It’s irrelevant. Something’s going to happen.”
Asked if he would consider US military involvement, he responded: “I don’t want to talk about that.”
Also read: The US just unveiled a nuclear bomb 24 times stronger than Hiroshima’s
G7 leaders seek US clarity
Multiple officials from G7 delegations indicated that Trump’s counterparts intended to press him for more information about his administration’s Middle East strategy.
Given America’s significant influence over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, European leaders wanted to understand whether the US would push for de-escalation or support further military action.
However, officials also expressed uncertainty about what exactly led Trump to believe diplomacy was still viable, especially in light of the scale and intensity of Israel’s recent strikes.
Also read: A Jerry Lewis Holocaust movie was shelved for decades—now the mystery might be over
Putin mediation proposal prompts disagreement
A separate point of tension emerged over Trump’s suggestion that Russian President Vladimir Putin could serve as a mediator in the conflict.
Trump had spoken to Putin by phone over the weekend and said Sunday he believed the Russian leader could play a role.
That proposal was dismissed by President Macron, who stated during a visit to Greenland that Russia’s own actions in Ukraine made it an unsuitable peace broker.
During his first public appearance at the summit on Monday, Trump revisited the G7’s past decision to expel Russia, saying: “Barack Obama and a person named Trudeau didn’t want to have Russia in. And I would say that that was a mistake, because I think you wouldn’t have a war right now if you had Russia in.”
He added, “They threw Russia out, which I claimed was a very big mistake, even though I wasn’t in politics.”
Later, when asked if Russia should be readmitted, Trump said, “I’m not saying he should at this point, because too much water has gone over the dam.”
Russia was expelled from the then-G8 in 2014 following its annexation of Crimea.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom Trump mentioned by name, became prime minister the following year.
Next steps unclear as talks continue
With President Trump back in Washington, the remaining G7 leaders are continuing discussions in the hopes of finalizing a joint statement.
A senior Canadian official reiterated that no final decisions had yet been made.
“This is not a done deal yet. This is something that will be discussed at the leader level. We expect that the bulk of that conversation will happen in the global security session this evening,” the official said.
As the summit progresses without the US president, both allies and observers await further clarity on what Trump’s next steps may be—and how the US will approach the growing conflict in the Middle East.
Read next: How a simple "safety check" helped this woman uncover a rare and deadly health threat in her husband
Do you think President Trump’s early departure from the G7 was justified given the circumstances? Should the US have signed the joint statement on Israel and Iran alongside its allies?
What do you make of Trump’s warning about Tehran—and his suggestion that Putin could act as a mediator? How should the US balance its role in Middle East diplomacy with maintaining unity among G7 nations?
Let us know in the comments. Your perspective helps shape a more informed discussion.
The unexpected move on Monday evening came as G7 leaders attempted to finalize a joint statement addressing rising tensions between Israel and Iran.
“President Trump will return to Washington tonight so he can attend to many important matters,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Monday.
Trump had originally intended to remain at the summit through Tuesday.
In a statement posted to social media, Leavitt added, “President Trump had a great day at the G7, even signing a major trade deal with the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Much was accomplished, but because of what’s going on in the Middle East, President Trump will be leaving tonight after dinner with Heads of State.”
President Donald Trump's early departure at the G7 summit and remarks on Iran drew global attention and raised questions among allies. Image Source: YouTube / Forbes Breaking News.
Disagreement over joint G7 statement
The summit began amid efforts by European leaders to finalize a joint statement that would emphasize Israel’s right to self-defense and assert that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon.
The statement was led by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and summit host Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Trump, however, signaled his intention not to sign the statement, according to a source familiar with the matter.
A senior White House official later confirmed the position, saying Trump saw no need to sign on given his prior public remarks.
Asked if a statement would be a useful show of unity, the official said that Trump’s attendance at the summit, which occurred at the invitation of other G7 leaders, already served that purpose.
“Under the strong leadership of President Trump, the United States is back to leading the effort to restore peace around the world. President Trump will continue to work towards ensuring Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon,” another White House official said.
Despite hopes among some European officials that Trump might change his mind, his stance created a visible divide among the leaders.
Stefan Kornelius, a spokesperson for the German government, told reporters, “We’ll see in the end, it’ll be up to the American side to decide whether we’re going to have a G7 statement on the Middle East or not.”
A senior Canadian official said that negotiations on the wording of the joint statement were ongoing and that discussions among the leaders would continue during the summit’s global security session.
Also read: Trump administration shakes up international institutions with surprise decisions–What happens next?
Social media warning and vague assurances
Hours after signaling his intention not to endorse the statement, Trump posted a brief and dramatic message on Truth Social: “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!”
He did not offer further explanation.
The post was widely interpreted as an attempt to increase pressure on Iran amid escalating tensions with Israel.
Later, when speaking to reporters at the summit, Trump said, “I think Iran basically is at the negotiating table where they want to make a deal, and as soon as I leave here, we’re going to be doing something,” without specifying what action he was referring to.
President Trump’s Truth Social post urges, “Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!” without further explanation. Image Source: YouTube / Sky News Australia.
Also read: Trump plans meeting with Putin–A step towards ending the war?
Background on Iran ultimatum and Israeli strikes
Earlier this year, President Trump issued a 60-day ultimatum for Iran to agree to a new nuclear deal.
That deadline expired Friday. On day 61, Israel carried out a series of unprecedented strikes against Iranian nuclear and military sites.
Trump referenced this during his meeting with Carney, saying, “They’d like to talk, but they should have done that before. I had 60 days, and they had 60 days, and on the 61st day, I said, ‘We don’t have a deal.’ They have to make a deal, and it’s painful for both parties, but I’d say Iran is not winning this war, and they should talk, and they should talk immediately, before it’s too late.”
Later, when asked if he believed Israel could manage the situation without US assistance, Trump replied, “It’s irrelevant. Something’s going to happen.”
Asked if he would consider US military involvement, he responded: “I don’t want to talk about that.”
Also read: The US just unveiled a nuclear bomb 24 times stronger than Hiroshima’s
G7 leaders seek US clarity
Multiple officials from G7 delegations indicated that Trump’s counterparts intended to press him for more information about his administration’s Middle East strategy.
Given America’s significant influence over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, European leaders wanted to understand whether the US would push for de-escalation or support further military action.
However, officials also expressed uncertainty about what exactly led Trump to believe diplomacy was still viable, especially in light of the scale and intensity of Israel’s recent strikes.
Also read: A Jerry Lewis Holocaust movie was shelved for decades—now the mystery might be over
Putin mediation proposal prompts disagreement
A separate point of tension emerged over Trump’s suggestion that Russian President Vladimir Putin could serve as a mediator in the conflict.
Trump had spoken to Putin by phone over the weekend and said Sunday he believed the Russian leader could play a role.
That proposal was dismissed by President Macron, who stated during a visit to Greenland that Russia’s own actions in Ukraine made it an unsuitable peace broker.
During his first public appearance at the summit on Monday, Trump revisited the G7’s past decision to expel Russia, saying: “Barack Obama and a person named Trudeau didn’t want to have Russia in. And I would say that that was a mistake, because I think you wouldn’t have a war right now if you had Russia in.”
He added, “They threw Russia out, which I claimed was a very big mistake, even though I wasn’t in politics.”
Later, when asked if Russia should be readmitted, Trump said, “I’m not saying he should at this point, because too much water has gone over the dam.”
Russia was expelled from the then-G8 in 2014 following its annexation of Crimea.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom Trump mentioned by name, became prime minister the following year.
Next steps unclear as talks continue
With President Trump back in Washington, the remaining G7 leaders are continuing discussions in the hopes of finalizing a joint statement.
A senior Canadian official reiterated that no final decisions had yet been made.
“This is not a done deal yet. This is something that will be discussed at the leader level. We expect that the bulk of that conversation will happen in the global security session this evening,” the official said.
As the summit progresses without the US president, both allies and observers await further clarity on what Trump’s next steps may be—and how the US will approach the growing conflict in the Middle East.
Read next: How a simple "safety check" helped this woman uncover a rare and deadly health threat in her husband
Do you think President Trump’s early departure from the G7 was justified given the circumstances? Should the US have signed the joint statement on Israel and Iran alongside its allies?
What do you make of Trump’s warning about Tehran—and his suggestion that Putin could act as a mediator? How should the US balance its role in Middle East diplomacy with maintaining unity among G7 nations?
Let us know in the comments. Your perspective helps shape a more informed discussion.
